@JcRabbit
There is no evidence that pirated copy encourages purchase just as pirated copy doesn't mean loss of revenue/income.
Actually there is, and I have first hand experience of it.
As the article I linked to also discusses, there is no doubt that an otherwise obscure game can, in some ways, be helped by the word of mouth generated because of software piracy. But the question is: at which point does the positive effects of that initial word of mouth becomes offset by the negative effects of software piracy? And what about AAA games that need no word of mouth resulting from piracy in the first place?
Also, there is direct evidence (seriously, read the article, it's worth it) that software piracy leads to loss of revenue.
What is very difficult in both cases, if not downright impossible, is to *quantify* by how much. But we can be certain that both cases have a measurable impact.
@JcRabbitPiracy was one of only means of even obtaining games years ago for me and kids mostly do it because they have no purchasing power. I mean, how many parents would pay 60€ for endless supplies of games to kids? Not many. But pirated copies could be obtained no questions asked from parents and no whining for wallet/credit card..
I sympathize with that, I really do: we've all been there.
But we're grown ups now, with jobs, responsibilities and bills to pay. We know what the cost of living is and understand what makes society tick and that people need to be paid for their efforts, because otherwise NOTHING would work.
Seeing grown people defending and rationalizing what is obviously wrong (not talking about you!) is thus quite sad.
Fast forward 2+ decades and I've basically purchased almost all games I've had pirated in the past. A lot of them I still haven't played yet, but I've bought them because I have my own income now, I don't have to justify it to anyone (parents) and it just felt like a right thing to do. I also haven't pirated a single game for ages thanks to my own income and global availability of games via Steam/GOG and the likes. And because I value honesty despite pirating circumstances from the past, I insist buying from GOG whenever possible. They respect me with zero DRM policy and I respect their trust by never sharing any of installers with anyone, even though you can easily just copy them with USB drive or upload them somewhere.
My hat off to you, RejZoR, and I hope more people start sharing your attitude. You understood that what you were doing was wrong and you took steps to correct it.
If everyone thought like you, there would be no software piracy (or at least it would be meaningless enough) and therefore no need for nasty stuff like DRM.
GOG is well aware people pirate their games still, but they keep on building with zero DRM trust policy and huge number of people greatly appreciate and respect that. Me included. For me, knowing games will work for unforeseeable future without having to botch therm with cracks is what is most important. I mean, I still play NFS3 from 1998 here and there which we had to hack on our own to play today...
This is what I meant when I wrote above that attitudes must be changed by peer/social pressure until those positive changes are internalized. It's a bit like seat belts in cars: there was a public uproar when those started being enforced all those years ago (it interferes with personal freedom, etc...) but now we all understand the benefits and nobody needs to tell us to put on a seatbelt when we get into a car - it is automatic.
Unfortunately there's still a lot of people convinced that taking advantage of others makes THEM smarter than all the rest who follow the rules, and also those who don't fully realize what they are doing. It is there that the change with the most impact must first take place, i.e.; in mentalities. Until then, all we have is copy protection and DRM.
Places like GOG can only exist because the attitude towards software piracy is slowly, but surely, changing.
